Adapter assembly



July 31, 1962 R. c. DAVIS ADAPTER ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1959 INVENTOR 0y 6. Davis b O y ,1-

E ATTORNEYS July 31, 1962 R. c. DAVIS ADAPTER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1959 INVENTOR Roy G. Davis BY 'E" M ATTORNEYS July 31, 1962 R. c. DAVIS ADAPTER ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 22, 1959 INVENTOR R0 y C. Dav/s J5 ATTORNEYS This invention is concerned with an adapter assembly for detachably connecting a pressure setting device and a well packer, and is particularly concerned with such an 1 adapter assembly which is attached between a pressure setting device and the mandrel of a well packer in such a way that the oppositely acting forces generated by the pressure setting device is transmitted to the mandrel of the packer, and the expansible anchoring slips thereon, to expand the packer sleeve, and anchor the packer in the well casing, and upon the exertion of a pre-determined additional force thereon is disengaged from the packer mandrel, whereby the pressure setting device and the adapter assembly, attached thereto, may be retrieved from the well, leaving the packer therein.

Such pressure setting device, together with the adapter assembly and packer attached therebelow, are customarily lowered into the well pipe on a wire line or cable.

A typical pressure setting device, commonly referred to as a gun, suitable for use with the adapter assembly disclosed herein, is disclosed in Baker et al. Patents No. 2,637,402 and 2,640,546, and isnot disclosed in detail herein because same does not constitute a part of the invention claimed herein. In such device a piston and rod therein is moved by an explosive charge to cause downward movement of a sleeve, engaged with the upper slips of a packer assembly, and upward movement of a setting mandrel, which is attached to the mandrel of the packer by a frangible member.

The adapter assemblies connecting the packer and pressure setting device, as shown in the said patents, employ a tension member, including a breakable stud, extending through the packer mandrel, and connected thereto in such a manner as to close the passage therethrough against flow of fluid so that upon the lowering of the assembled packer, adapter device, and pressure setting tool into a column of fluid in the well, there is no provision for bypass of fluid, thereby adding greatly to the time required for lowering the packer to the desired level in the well.

Furthermore such adapter assemblies customarily employ latch members which are held in engagement with the packer mandrel by a holding member which is disengaged by the breaking of the rupturable stud or other frangible member to allow the holding member to fall by gravity from engagement with the latches to allow the latches to retract and move inward out of engagement with the packer mandrel.

It has been found that such latches often become inoperable by reason of foreign material becoming lodged about and between the latch members to such an extent as to prevent their functioning to disengage from the packer mandrel and in some instances the latch holding member failed to release by reason of foreign material collected thereabout.

One of the main advantages of the present invention is to provide means for circulating fluid between and about the latch members as the assembly is lowered into the well so as to flush away foreign material which might have a if; i.

3,l}47,07l Patented July 31, 1952 tendency to settle and collect between and about such latch members.

The apparatus disclosed herein makes provision for the by-pass of fluid in the well through the packer mandrel and the adapter assembly as the assembly is lowered into the well, and the ports and circulation passages for such by-pass of fluid are so arranged that the fluid flows between and about the latch members, thereby greatly lessening the time required for lowering the assembly into 0 the well, and at the same time maintaining the latches free of foreign material in the well fluid, which might otherwise have a tendency to collect thereabout.

The adapter assembly disclosed and claimed herein is so constructed that the frangible member, or members, which hold the latch retaining means in engagement with the latches are located exteriorly of the tubular latch support member so that the bore of the tubular latch support is left open for the flow of fluid therethrough, thereby ermitting the by-pass flow of fluid through the packer mandrel, and through the adapted assembly, as the packer is lowered into the well.

By closing the lower end of the tubular latch support, in the preferred form of adapter assembly disclosed herein, and providing flow ports through the wall of the latch support, adjacent and above the latch members, by-passing fluid is directed between the latch members to flush away foreign material which might-have a tendency to settle about them.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide an adapter assembly between a packer and a pressure setting device which permits the by-pass of fluid therethrough as the device is lowered into the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an adapter assembly which provides for the flow of such bypassing fluid between and about the latch members and upwardly through the adapter assembly as the device is lowered into the well.

A still further object of the invetnion is to provide such an adapter assembly wherein the frangible member or members, detachably connecting the latch supporting member in position to hold the latches in engagement with the packer mandrel, is located exteriorly of the latch supporting member whereby the bore through the latch supporting member is unobstructed thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adapter assembly wherein the holding member, which holds the latch members in engagement with the packer mandrel, is carried on the latch support member and is positively moved out of holding engagement with the latch members upon actuation of the pressure setting device, and the consequent rupturing of the frangible member to release the holding member, thereby eliminating the possibility that the holding member might not move from holding engagement with the latches.

A general object of the invention is to provide such an adapter assembly which is positive in its operation to release the assembly from the packer, which is relatively simple in construction and easy to assemble.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent up reading the detailed specification hereinafter following and by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.

Suitable embodiments of the invention are shown in the attached drawings in which:

FIGURES I and IA show a cross-sectional, eleva- .3 tional view of the adapter assembly connected to a well packer, as the assembly would appear as it is lowered into the well casing, and prior to actuating the pressure setting device to set the packer;

FIGURE II is a fragmentary, half-sectional, elevational view showing the relative position of the parts of the adapter assembly and packer after the packer has been set, and the frangible member has been ruptured, to allow the disengagement of the adapter assembly from the packer mandrel. In such position the adapter assembly and the pressure setting device, to which it is suspended, may be removed from the well, leaving the packer therein;

FIGURE III is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE IV is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of FIGURE I;

FIGURE V is a perspective view of two of the latch dogs used in the preferred form of the adapter assembly;

FIGURE VI is a fragmentary cross-sectional, elevational view of an alternate form of adapter assembly, showing an alternate form of frangible attachment of the latch dogs to the latch support;

FIGURE VII is a transverse sectional view taken on the line VIIVII of FIGURE VI;

FIGURE VIII is a transverse sectional view taken on the line VII IVIII of FIGURE VI.

Numeral references are employed to designate the various parts shown in the drawings, and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

Referring first to FIGURES I and IA, showing the adapter assembly detachably connected to a well packer, the numeral 1 indicates a tubular sleeve member which is op'eratively connected to a piston rod in a pressure setting device, like that shown in the aforesaid Baker patents, and is arranged to apply downward force on the slips of the packer when the pressure setting device is fired. Such member 1 is commonly referred to as a cross-link sleeve. 7 The cross-link sleeve 1 is threadedly attached to the upper end of a. tubular setting sleeve 2 by means of corresponding threads 3. The setting sleeve 2 has a plurality of ports 4 provided through the wall thereof for the purpose of permitting circulation of fluid therethrough while the packer assembly, adapter assembly, and pressure setting device are being lowered through a column of fluid in a well pipe.

A tubular setting mandrel 5 is operatively attached at its upper end to the cylinder of the pressure setting device (not shown) so that an upward force is applied thereto when the pressure setting device is fired.

The setting mandrel 5 is threadedly engaged to a tubular adapter coupling 6 by means of corresponding threads 7, and is held against rotation by a set screw 8.

A tubular slip carrier 9 is disposed about the adapter coupling 6 and is secured thereto by means of a shear screw 10 (of which there may be one or more) extending through the wall of the setting sleeve 2, through the wall of the slip carrier 9, and into the wall of the adapter coupling 6.

The slip carrier 9 is also secured to the setting sleeve 2 by means of a plurality of shorter shear screws 11 which extend into the wall of the slip carrier 9.

The slip carrier 9 is disengageably interlocked with a plurality of slip segments 14, extending thereabout, by means of annular interfitting shoulders 12 and 13 provided on the slip segments 14 and the slipcarrier 9, respectively.

The slip segments 14 have exterior teeth 15 thereon arranged to penetratingly engage the well casing 76 to provide an anchor for the Well packer when expanded against the wall of the well casing 76.

A pair of garter springs 16 are extended about the slip segments 14 to normally hold them in retracted position against the expander head 19.

The upper expander head 19 has an upwardly facing conical surface 20 thereon which is engaged with'correspending conical surfaces 21 on the inner sides of the slip segments 14, so that when the slips 14 are moved downwardly relative to the head 19 the slips are expanded outwardly to anchoring engagement with the well casing 76.

The well packer assembly includes a tubular support body or mandrel 22, which is attached to the expander head 29 by one or more shear screws 23.

The adapter assembly includes a tubular latch support member 24 which is threadedly engaged to the lower end of the adapter coupling 6 by means of companion threads 25 and is held against rotation by a set screw 26.

A hollow latch sleeve 27 has an annular internal shoulder 28 therein which engages the shoulder 29 on the latch support 24, such shoulder 28 being clamped between the lower end of the adapter coupling 6 and the shoulder 29. The lower end of the latch sleeve 27 engages the upper end of the packer mandrel 22.

A plurality of latch dogs 30 are slidably suspended, and annularly arranged, about the latch support 24 (there being four employed in the forms disclosed herein). Each latch dog 30 includes an enlarged depending head 31 thereon having exterior threads 32 formed on the outer face thereof, and also includes .a neck or suspending portion 33 of reduced thickness, each neck portion having an elongated slot 34 therein.

A plurality of pick-up lugs 35 are formed integrally on the latch support 24, each of said pick-up lugs extending through one of the slots 34 so that the slots 34 are slidable longitudinally with relation to the lugs 35, whereby the latch dogs may be suspended on the lugs 35 when the adapter assembly is disengaged from the packer and withdrawn from the well, in the manner hereinafter described. The latch sleeve 27 maintains the neck portions 33 on the lugs 35 against outward movement.

The widths of the latch dogs 30 are so arranged that, when assembled on the latch support 24, spaces 36 are provided between the heads 31, and spaces 37 are provided between the suspending portions 33 of the latch dogs so as to provide flow passages between the latch dogs for displacement of fluid thereabou't as the packer and adapter assembly are lowered into the Well. Such passages 36 and 37 communicate with ports 38 and 40, provided through the wall of the latch support 24, so that fluid in the well may by-pass between the latch dogs and through the ports 38 and and upwardly through the bores of the latch support 24 and adapter coupling 6, outwardly through the passages 18 in the wall of the setting mandrel 5, and into the casing annulus 76a through the ports 4, provided through the wall of the setting sleeve 2. Thus fluid in the'well is by-passed through the packer and adapter assembly as the assembly is lowered into the well, thereby greatly reducing the running time of the packer.

It will be noted that the ports 38 and 40 communicate with areas of reduced diameter 39 and 41, respectively, on the exterior surface of the latch support 24 so that freedom of circulation between such ports and the passages 36 and 37, between the latch dogs 30, is provided.

An enlarged annular shoulder 42 is provided on the latch support member 24, and as shown, is integral therewith. It could, of course, be a separate ring held to the support 24 by a set screw or could simply rest loosely on the shear ring 45. The shoulder 42 constitutes a holding or retaining member for holding the exterior threads 32, on the latch dogs 30, in engagement with the corresponding interior threads 43 in the packer mandrel 22. However, it will be seen that when the latch support member 24 moves upwardly, in the manner hereinafter described, the shoulder 42 moves opposite the reduced wall thickness 44 of the latch dogs 30, allowing the latch dogs 30 to'pivot inwardly out of threaded engagement with the mandrel 22.

The latch support 24 is held in position with relation to the other parts of the assembly, as shown in FIGURE I, by means of a shear ring 45, which is threadedly engaged to the latch support by means of companion threads 46. The shear ring 45 is made of frangible material so that the threads therein may be broken and stripped away from the threads on the exterior surface of the latch support 24 upon the exertion of a pre-determined force thereagainst, which force is greater than that required to expand and set the well packer.

The shear ring 45 and the heads 31 on the latch dogs 30 are provided with overlapping shoulders 47 and 48, respectively, so that upon assembly the threads on the separate latch dogs are caused to be in alignment whereby the latch dogs may be threaded in the packer mandrel.

The shear ring 45 also holds the latch dogs 31} in upward position so that the shoulder 42 is engaged with the greater thickness of the heads 31 of the dogs 36 to thereby retain the dogs in threaded engagement with the packer mandrel 22 until the shear ring is broken in the manner hereinafter described.

When the shear ring 45 is sheared and broken away from the latch support 24, said ring is permitted to fall down and lodge upon the shoulder provided by a washer 50, which is held in place against the lower end of the latch support 24 by means of a bolt 51, threadedly engaged in the lower end of the latch support 24, as indicated at 52. Thus the ring 45 may be retrieved from the well with the adapter assembly.

The threaded attachment between the packer mandrel and latch dogs represents only one means of interengaged attachment between such members. Such attachment could also consist of interengaged grooves.

There may be several types of well packers run with the adapter assembly, forming the subject of this application. The packer disclosed herein is a typical construction of well packer, commonly known as a drillable packer, through which is provided a central bore 49 through which fluid may fiow. Such packer includes a packer sleeve 53 made of elastic material loosely disposed about the mandrel 22. Disposed at opposite ends of the packer sleeve are conventional expander heads 19 and 54 which are separated from the packer sleeve by deformable rings 61 and 62, made of lead or similar material, and support rings 63 and 64 made of malleable or elastic material. Such rings 61, 62, 63 and 64 are conventional in packers of this type, and are for the purpose of confining the elastic material of the packer sleeve against flow between the well casing and the expander heads when the packer sleeve is expanded and set against the casing. 1

The lower expander head 54 has a conical surface 55 thereon which is engaged with the conical surfaces 53 arranged on the inner sides of the slip segments 56 so as to move the slip segments outwardly upon relative longitudinal movement between the expander head and slip segments. The slip segments 56 have teeth 57 thereon for penetrating engagement with the well casing 7 6, and garter springs 60 extend thereabout to normally hold the slip segments in contracted position against the expander head.

The slip segments 56 are frangibly attached to the expander head 54 and the packer mandrel 22 by means of shear screws 59. The lower ends of the slip segments 56 are positioned against an upwardly facing shoulder provided by the upper face of the hollow support body 65 which is threadedly engaged to the mandrel 22, as indicated at 66.

-A plurality of bores 67 [are provided in the body 65, one for each slip segment, each of such bores having a slip follower pin 68 disposed therein, arranged to move upwardly out of such bore 67, and thereby move the slip segments 56 upwardly along the conical surface 55 of the expander head 54 into engagement with the well casing 76, when the shear screws 59 are broken by the upward movement of the mandrel 22, after the upper slips 14 have been set against the wall of the casing in the manner hereinafter described.

The pins 68 are moved outwardly of the body 65 by means of springs 69, which are contracted, as shown in FIGURE IA.

The lower end of the well packer assembly is terminated by a conventional junk pusher 70, having circulation slots 73 through the wall thereof. The junk pusher 70 is threadedly engaged to the body 65 by means of threads 71, and is held against rotation by a set screw 72.

Suitable fluid seals 74 and 75 are provided between the mandrel 22 and the body 65, and between the body 65 and the junk pusher 70.

A guide pin 77 is threadedly engaged in the wall of the upper expander head 19 and has an inner end extending into an elongated slot 78 provided in the wall of the mandrel 22. Such pin and guide slot arrangement prevents relative rotation between the expander head 19 and the mandrel 22, thereby securing the mandrel 22 against rotation when the latch dogs 30, or a production string or other well tools, are threadedly engaged therewith or disengaged therefrom.

The operation and function of the apparatus hereinbefore disclosed is described as follows:

The adapter assembly is made up and attached to the well packer in the manner shown in FIGURES I and IA, as hereinbefore described, and is attached at its upper end to a pressure setting gun (not shown) of the type shown in the aforesaid Baker patent. The cross-link sleeve 1 is operatively attached to the piston rod in the gun to exert a downward force when the pressure setting gun is fired, and the setting mandrel 5 is operatively attached to the cylinder of the pressure setting gun so to exert a counteracting upward force when the gun is fired.

After the well packer, gun and adapter assembly has been lowered to the position in the well where the packer is to be set, the pressure setting device is fired, exerting a downward force on the setting sleeve 2 which shears the shear pins 10 between the adapter coupling 6 and slip carrier 9, separating these elements and moves the slip segments 14 downwardly along the conical surface 20 of the expander head 19, thereby moving the slip segments outwardly into engagement with the casing 76. This outward movement, of course, disengaged the slips 14 from the slip carrier 9.

After the slips 14 have thus been set the counter-acting movement of the cylinder of the pressure setting device exerts an upward force on the setting mandrel 5, which through .the shear ring and the latch dogs 30, exerts an upward force on the packer mandrel 22. This causes the lower slips 56 to move upwardly, breaking the shear screws 59, and the slip segments are forced rapidly outwardly and upwardly against the casing wall 76 by the spring urged follower pin 68 along the conical surface on the expander head 54. The lower end of the'expander head 54 contacts the upper face of the base member and continued upward movement of the mandrel 22 causes the force to be transferred to the packer sleeve 53, through the expander head 54, to thus shorten and expand the packer sleeve between the expander heads 19 and 54 to set position as shown in FIGURE 11.

Continued exertion of upwardly acting force through the setting mandrel 5, after the expansion and setting of the packer, will cause the shear ring 45 to be broken away from the latch supporting member 24 to thereby allow the latch support to move upwardly with relation to the latch dogs 30, which are held in threaded engagement with the packer mandrel 22. When the latch support 24 has moved upwardly a sufiicient distance to cause the shoulder 42 thereon to move opposite the reduced wall thickness 44 of the latch dogs 30, the heads 31 of the latch dogs '30 are permitted to move inwardly, bringing them out of threaded engagement with the packer mandrel 22. The threads 32 and 43, between the mandrel 22 and latch 7 dogs 30, are so arranged as to have angular engaged surfaces having a component acting thereon which causes the latch dogs to move inwardly upon the exertion of an upward force against the latch dogs.

It will be noted that as the latch support 24 moved upwardly with relation to the latch dogs 3% thepick-up lugs 35 move upwardly in the slots 34 sufiicient to free the upper portions 33 of the latch dogs firom engagement between the shoulder 29 and the inner wall of the latch sleeve 27. This permits the lower ends of the latch dogs to pivot inwardly a sufficient distance to free threads 32' from threads 43.

After the latch dogs 30 have thus been disengaged :firom the mandrel 22 continued relative movement between support 24 and latch dogs will cause the upper ends of slots 34 to engage the lugs 35 so that the latch dogs are suspended to said lugs. The latch sleeve 27 retains the dogs upon the pickup lugs 35 so that they may be retrieved from the well on the adapter assembly.

Upon the upward movement of the latch support 24 the latch sleeve 27 also moves upwardly, engaging the slip carrier 9 and shearing the shear pins 10 and 11 between the slip carrier 9 and the setting sleeve 2.

The entire adapter assembly and the pressure setting gun, to which it is attached, is thereby freed from the packer mandrel 22'and may be removed from the well, leaving the packer set in the casing.

A11 alternate form of the adapter assembly 'is'shown in FIGURES Vl-VIII of the drawing. In such form there is shown an alternate means of frangibly afiixing the holding member against the latch dogs to hold them in threaded engagement with the packer mandrel.

The latch support 24a in such modified form includes a. diameter portion 79 and a reduced lower end diameter 80. The diameter portion 79 is in engagement with the head portion 31 of the latch-dogs 30, and is held in such engagement by means of shear screws 83 extending through the latch dogs and into the Walls of the support 24a. The larger diameter 79 thus constitutes a holding means for holding the latch dogs in threaded engagement with the packer mandrel 22.

Perforations or passages 81 are provided through the wall of the reduced lower end 80 of the latch support 24a, and an opening 82 is provided in the lower end thereof, so that fluid may pass through such passages and upwardly through the bore of the latch assembly to thereby by-pass fluid therethrough, as was described in connection with the preferred form.

Passages 84 and 85 are also provided through the wall of latch support 24 to thereby permit by-passing fluid to flow through passages 37 and 38, between latch dogs 30, and through passages 84 and 85 into the bore of support member 24a. Thus there is provided a flushing action to keep the latches 30 free of foreign material as was explained in connection with the preferred form, de-

scribed above.

When an upward force is exerted against the latch support 24a, such force is transferred through the shear pins 83 to the latch dogs 30 and therethrough to the packer mandrel 22 to thereby set the packer. After the packer is set, the continued exertion of upwardly acting force breaks the shear pins 83, thereby releasing the latch dogs 30 therefrom, allowing the latch support 24 to move upwardly relative to latch dogs 24. When the lower thickened head portion 31 of the latch dogs 30 comes opposite the reduced diameter 80 of the latch support 24, the latch dogs 30 are allowed to move inwardly out of threaded engagement with the mandrel 22, to thereby allow the disengagement of the adapter assembly from the packer mandrel, and retrieval from the well, leaving the packer set in the well as was explained in connection with the preferred form.

It will thus be seen that l have provided adapter assembhes for attachment of a pressure setting device to a well packer, which are relatively simple in construction, easy to assemble, positive in operation and release from the packer, and provide for the circulation of fluid therethrough and about the latches whilebeing lowered in the well, thus reducing the running time thereof and assuring operation of the latches to release the adapter assembly from the packer. g

It will be understood that other and further forms of my invention may be devised withoutdepartingfrom the latch members on the support; a holding member carried a by the support exteriorly thereof engageable with the latch members to hold them in threaded engagement with the mandrel; frangible means engaged with the support and the latch members exteriorly of the support. to prevent upward movement of the support relative to the latch members; a reduced wall thickness on the latch members adjacent and above the holding member arranged to receive the holding member to permit the threaded portions of the latch members to move inwardly upon upward movement of the support relative to'the latch members, whereby when the frangible means is broken the support is permitted to move upwardly with relation to the latch members and the latch members are permitted to move inwardly out of threaded engagement with the mandrel.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the holding means is integral with the latch support.

3. The combination call for in claim 1 wherein the frangible means is a ring threadedly engaged with the latch support and 'being in overlapping abutting engagement with the latch member.

4. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the frangible means comprises a shear screw extending through each latch member into the Wall of the latch support.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the latch members are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to provide flow passages therebetween; and flow ports are provided through the Wall of the tubular latch support in communication with the flow passages between the latch members.

6. The combination called for in claim 5 wherein the lower end of the latch support is closed.

7. An adapter assembly for attaching a well tool to a pressure setting device comprising: a tubular latch support member; a plurality of latch members, the said latch members being arranged for longitudinal and pivotal movement on the support; means for suspending the latch members to the support; holding means on the support externally thereof in engagement with the latch member to hold same in threaded engagement with the threads in the well tool; frangible means e'ngaged'with the latch members and the latch support exteriorly of the support to prevent upward movement of the support relative to the latch members; the breaking of the frangible means permitting the latch support to move upwardly with relation to the latch membersto permit the holding members to move out of holding engagement with the latch members to thereby allow the latch mem bars to move'inwardly out of threaded engagement with the well tool.

8. An adapter assembly for attaching a well tool to a pressure setting device comprising: a tubular latch support members; a plurality of latch members, the said-latch members being arranged for longitudinal and pivotal movement on the support; means for suspending the latch members of the support; holding means on the support exteriorly thereof in engagement with the latch members to hold same in interengaged relationship with the well tool; frangible means engaged with the latch members and the latch support exteriorly of the support to prevent upward movement of the support relative to the latch members; the breaking of the frangible means permitting the latch support to move upwardly.

with relation to the latch members to permit the holding members to move out of holding engagement with the latch members to thereby allow the latch members to move inwardly out of engagement with the well tool.

9. The combination called for in claim 7 wherein the frangible means comprises shear screws extending through the latch members and into the wall of the latch support.

10. In combination with a well packer having a tubular mandrel therein having interior threads at the upper end thereof, an adapter assembly comprising: a tubular setting mandrel arranged to be operatively attached to the cylinder of a pressure setting device; a setting sleeve arranged exteriorly of the setting mandrel and adapted to be operatively attached to the piston rod in a pressure setting device; a tubular latch support member attached to the setting mandrel, said tubular latch support extending into the packer mandrel bore and having a fluid passageway therethrough; a plurality of latch members, the said latch members being arranged for longitudinal and pivotal movement on the support; means for suspending the latch members to the support; holding means on the support exteriorly thereof in engagement with the latch members to hold same in threaded engagement with the threads on the inner side of the packer mandrel; frangible means engaged with the latch members and the latch support exteriorly thereof to prevent upward movement of the support relative to the latch members; the breaking of the frangible means permitting the latch support to move upwardly with relation to the latch members to permit the holding members to move out of holding engagement with the latch members to thereby allow the latch members to move inwardly out of threaded engagement with the packer mandrel.

ll. The combination called for in claim 10 wherein the latch dogs are spaced apart sufiiciently to provide flow passages therebetween; and flow ports are provided through the wall of the latch support, the wall of the setting sleeve and the wall of the setting mandrel communicating with the area on the outer side of the setting mandrel to permit the by-pass of fluid through the latch support, setting mandrel and setting sleeve into the casing annulus surrounding the adapter assembly.

12. An adapter assembly for attaching a well packer to a pressure setting device comprising a tubular latch support; a plurality of latch members slidably suspended to the latch support and movable longitudinally and laterally thereon; an extension of reduced thickness on each latch member; a longitudinal slot in each such extension; a plurality of lugs on said latch support, one of said lugs extending into a slot in each such dog and being movable longitudinally therein to suspend the latch member on the support; a head on each of said latch members of greater thickness than the extension and having external threads thereon arranged to engage companion threads in a packer mandrel; an enlarged annular shoulder on said latch support engageable with the inner sides of said heads; frangible means attached engaged with the support and the latch members for holding the heads of said latch members in engagement with the shoulder while the said latch members are in upward position with relation to the said lugs, the breaking of such frangible means allowing the shoulder to move longitudinally upwardly with relation to the latch members to bring the shoulder into registry with the reduced thickness of said extensions, to thereby allow the heads of the latch members to move inwardly out of threaded engagement with the packer mandrel.

13. The combination called for in claim 12 wherein the latch members are spaced apart sufliciently to provide flow passages therebetween; ports through the wall of the latch support member to allow fluid to flow between such latch members and through such ports into the bore of the latch support member; the lower end of the latch support member being closed so that fluid may be bypassed between such latch members and through said ports.

14. The combination called for in claim 12 wherein the frangible means consists of shear screws extending through the latch dogs and into the wall of the'latch support.

15. The combination called for in claim 14 wherein perforations are provided through the wall of the latch support below the frangible connection to permit the flow of hy-pass fluid therethrough into the bore of the latch support.

16. In a device of the class described, a tubular latch support; a plurality of latch members arranged for slideable and pivotal movement on the support and having threads on the exterior surfaces thereof arranged to be threadedly engaged with interior threads in a packer mandrel; means for suspending the latch members to the support, holding means on the tubular support exteriorly thereof engageable with the inner sides of the latch members to hold them in outward position with relation to the latch support; and frangible means engaged with the latch members and the latch support exteriorly of the support to prevent upward movement of the support relative to the latch members; the breaking of such frangible means permitting the holding means to move out of holding relationship to the latch members.

17. The combination called for in claim 16 wherein the frangible means comprises a shear ring threadedly engaged to the latch support and engaging the latch members.

18. The combination called for in claim 16 wherein the frangible means comprises shear screws attached between the latch members and the latch support.

19. The combination called for in claim 16 wherein the latch members are spaced apart sufliciently to provide flow passages therebetween, and flow ports are provided through the wall of the latch support communicating with the flow passages and the interior of the latch support.

20. In a device of the class described, a latch support; a plurality of latch members arranged for slideable and lateral movement on the support; means for suspending the latch members on the support; holding means on the support engageable with the inner sides of the latch members to hold them in outward position with relation to the latch support; and a shear ring secured about the support and engaged with the latch members to prevent upward movement of the support relative to the latch members; the breaking of such shear ring permitting the holding means to move out of holding relationship to the latch members, to thus permit the latch members to move inwardly of the support.

21. The combination called for in claim 20 wherein the shear ring is threadedly engaged about the support, with the threads thereon arranged to be broken upon a predetermined pressure being exerted thereagainst, to thereby separate the shear ring from the support.

22. In a device of the class described, a latch support; a plurality of latch members suspended to the support; means for detachably engaging the latch members with a packer mandrel; means for slidably and pivotally suspending the latch members exteriorly of the support; holding means carried by the support engageable with the latch members to hold same outwardly; and frangible means engaged with the latch members and the latch support exteriorly of the support to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the support relative to the latch members until the frangible means is broken to permit the holding means to move longitudinally out of 11 holding relationship to the latch members to allow the latch members to move inwardly.

23. The combination called for in claim 22 wherein the means for slideably and pivotally suspending the latch members to the support are elongated slots in the latch members and lugs on the support movable longitudinally in the slots;

2,153,268 Neighbors Apr. 4, 1939 12 Morrisett Mar. 18,

Baker June 2, Sterrett July 14,

Ragan et a1. Mar. 9,

Conrad Oct. 19,

Baker et a1. July 26,

Knox Mar. 6, 

